What are the risks for China as it draws closer to Russia with an eye on the US?

Delicate balancing act between major ally Russia and Ukraine and its Western backers has left China on the horns of a dilemma

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Rescuers work at the site of a damaged residential building after shelling in Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine, on Sunday. The US and Nato pressure campaign against China over claims that it is a “decisive enabler” of the Russian war effort has pushed Beijing closer to Moscow. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 8:06pm, 17 Sep 2024Updated: 8:39pm, 17 Sep 2024

With the Ukraine war entering a critical stage, there are growing signs that China and the United States might be readying to take their gloves off on the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.

The US and its allies are weighing whether to allow Ukraine to use long-range Western missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia. This could be a potential game changer in the nearly 31-month war. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, this would alter the nature and scope of the conflict.

Meanwhile, the pressure campaign launched by the US and Nato against China, especially their sanctions and allegations of its “very substantial” support for Putin’s war effort as a “decisive enabler”, seem to have pushed Beijing closer to Moscow.

China has markedly dialled up its diplomatic support for Russia, with President Xi Jinping expected to meet Putin next month in Kazan at a summit of the Brics emerging economies, in what would be the pair’s third meeting since May.

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Since July, Beijing has also sent Premier Li Qiang and national legislative chairman Zhao Leji, its No 2 and No 3 officials, as well as Vice-President Han Zheng and top diplomat Wang Yi to meet Putin in Russia.